Reasons to read your bible...

Today we are going to look at WHY should you read your bible..

I know, I know you think you know the answers to this... And maybe you do..

But I know I have always found reviewing my Motivations... Educational..

So here are my top 5 reasons to read your bible...

1) First thing it does is it elevates your thinking.

What does that mean?? 

Well instead of starting your day (Yes I believe starting your day with bible is very important..)
But if you open your mind first thing in the morning and you add into it GOD'S thoughts, God's ways, Gods directions for your life.. It makes you more mindful of your direction for the day..

2)Second thing reading your bible does is it gives you PEACE...  

Starting your day with God's mind and God's direction starts you off with peace. It gives you direction. It makes you have diving guidance.. 

How many times have you heard people saying.. 

"I just wish there was an instruction Manuel"

There is.. It is called The Bible!

3) When times are hard... And they so often are!!

God's word gives us a Refuge.. 

A place to run to .. A place to find solace.. and HOPE!

4) When you read your bible frequently.. It starts to change you... FOR THE BETTER...

Some would get all freaked out by this statement..

But it's true..

God's word when you read it gets into your heart and mind.. And it tells you it won't come back void.. 

It's full desire is to bring you into a closer relationship with the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

And in all honesty... WHO can't use some personal improvements?

Is there anyone who has such perfect character or such a sterling personality that they need no help??

5) God is God.. So often in our world we allow men to make and determine what is right and wrong.. 

Let God be right.. 

Scarcely does a day go by when we don't see the things of MAN...

I will be honest.. I think it really is a dying art.. Learning and Leaning On GOD!

My Spiritual Journey

Well I don't know about you ladies. 

But I want to.. have a daily time of Bible reading. 

I find it keeps me sane.

Yes Literally in fact. There is something about a daily bible reading that will change who you are (for the better) and make your day less chaotic and crazy.

Maybe it simply is just starting your day admitting to yourself and God that you are dependent on him and his help..

Well so for the next little while I am going to be reading from the Book of 1 Samuel.

And we start it out with the story of Hannah and her husband. 

1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim–zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

 

3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

 

4And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

 

5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

 

6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

 

8Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.

 

10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

 

11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

 

12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

 

13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

 

14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

 

17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

 

18And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

 

19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

 

20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

 

22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lordestablish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

 

24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.

25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.

27For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

 

28Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to theLord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

I think the part of this chapter that I am in love with most is that Hannah wasn't some perfect woman. She wasn't someone to whom there was no trial in her daily life. 

~Firstly she wanted children but as of the beginning of this chapter hadn't conceived this child. For the woman who is infertile what a beautiful reminder. Just because you haven't conceived as of yet.. doesn't mean you won't.. Think on that for just a moment. 

~Hannah knew much provocation. She had to daily share her husband with another woman.. THANK GOD I don't have this issue. Living with another woman in my house telling me what to do etc.. Praise God that the New Testament allows for me to only have my husband and not to have to share him. But look at Hannah she lived with this burden and from all evidence was not bitter about it but was sorrowful in spirit. Seeking out God's house to pray and make requests for God to see her need and change her situation.

~Even the Priest was assuming things about Hannah.. Thinking she was a drunk. Think about that. She didn't get all puffed up and bent out of shape when he made that accusation to her.. Nope she quietly and with meakness explained herself.. (Which in this day and age just asking someone to do so.. Explaining themselves.. can get you thoroughly cussed out..) But not so with Hannah she quietly and with a great sadness of heart she not only bore her own burden for children and explained that to him.. But she also defended herself in a charitable and quiet spirit. Not in a how dare you even say that kind of attitude either.. I mean think about it.. I'd have been tempted to use that tone of voice if someone came up to me while I was kneeling at the altar praying about something and while weeping they said "Hey you sinner are you drunk and here in God's house??"

~And by the way.. GOD answered her plea's BECAUSE of the way she responded to the priest.. At no point here does God say oh you poor girl.. He had no right to see you as that... NOPE..! God stood behind the man of God.. Even though later on here it explains that Eli's own priesthood is full of sin.. YEA.. Get that.. Eli's family is doing the sinning.. Talk about how hard it had to be for Hannah to see the contradiction of sinners inside of what Eli was saying about her.. He was labeling her with the sins of his own family.. Smearing her life with the vileness of his own household.. But she didn't respond by telling him to mind his own business did she? And GOD Blessed her for that meek and quiet spirit..

Just in this one chapter.. I have found enough to try to model myself after.. 

Can the bible be looked at like we would look at a Homeschooling Curriculum??

What if I told you that the bible is just like a Homeschool Curriculum?

• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

What things are your children thinking on? Truth? Honest things? Just things?

Pure things? Lovely things? Things of Good Report? Virtuous things? Things of Praise??

BTW.. THINK ON THESE THINGS.. That is a command.. So are you and your children thinking on these things??

• Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

Where are your affections? Are they based on things above?? Or things on the earth..

I won't lie.. Sometimes I get the joy of being able to say YES.. My affections are wholly set on Jesus Christ and his Kingdom.. But as a mom my affections are also on this world.. that I have to send my babies out on.. I have to keep a barometer out there on what's happening. And often times my ability to keep the balance is is just not where it needs to be.. So if your in that boat.. Your not alone..

• Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

Weigh that though here just a moment.. That is an EITHER OR STATEMENT.. Either he loves the world.. Or he loves the father.. One of these are true.. the other isn't.

• And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Don't be too harsh with children.. Not saying have no boundaries but you need to understand if your too harsh they will push back.. and become rebellious. 

• But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.1 Timothy 4:7

Notice here the bible tells us that it requires EXERCISE of the faith and discernment to the pursuit of Godliness.. So don't be disgusted or disappointed when you don't make it on the first try..

• O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 1Timothy 6:20

Don't be swept away by things that aren't taught for your edification.. And please remember that the only reason science and the bible disagree is because there are men in both camps who are trying to make it so..

If they honestly used the findings of nature through scientific methods.. THERE WOULD BE NO Clashing..

It'd be a fine running machine..

Correctly dividing the Bible

Deuteronomy 6:7-9

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

All scripture is for our learning. We are to use the Old Testament as much as we use the New Testament..

WHY? You might ask..

4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:4-6

Think of a bible as a jigsaw puzzle that we have all the answers to.. But we need to correctly decide where each piece fits.. So that we have the CORRECT.. And biblical view..

Aforetime=WAY BACK WHEN... God set people to give US instruction on how to live.. and how to live GODLY AND HAPPILY!

 11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

1 Corinthians 10:11

We should know that there is stuff put into the bible BECAUSE OF US! Meaning things happened to the apostles, Moses and Abraham.. BECAUSE God knew we would need his input on this subject.. TALK ABOUT LOVE! He loved us enough to put them through that.. teach them that lesson.. and all because we will need that same lesson!